New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz spoke to reporters on Saturday night at an NFL Honors event and answered questions about his injured right knee. Cruz tore the patella tendon in his right knee on October 12 during a Sunday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I’m about 15 weeks post-surgery. Feeling good,” said Cruz. “It’s about building the strength up in the knee, the quad, all the major muscles down there. That’s where I’m at right now.

“The trainers have a game plan but they’re not telling me. They tell me weeks as they approach so I don’t look too far ahead. I think that is smart. But I’ll do light running in about two weeks or so.”

It remains to be seen if Cruz can completely regain his pre-injury physical ability. Cruz finished the 2014 season with 23 catches for 337 yards and one touchdown in six starts.

The father of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Archie Manning, told the press on Thursday that he believes his son would retire before playing for another professional football team. One of Archie’s other sons, Peyton Manning, plays for the Denver Broncos after a long career with the Indianapolis Colts.

“Peyton’s enjoyed his three years with the Broncos but he always envisioned himself playing for one team. So I’m glad when he did have to change, he made a good choice,” said Archie Manning. “But Eli, I think if the Giants traded Eli, he would retire. He loves his team. He loves the New York Giants…Eli wants to (finish his career with the Giants). I hope he can. Eli doesn’t worry about it too much. That is kind of the Giants decision.”

The Giants traded for Manning in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. The 34-year old Manning has played 11 seasons and won two Super Bowl MVP’s with the team. He is entering the final year of his current contract. Manning is scheduled to count $19.75 million against the 2015 salary cap unless the Giants extend his contract.

Statistically-speaking, Manning had one of his best seasons in 2014. Manning finished the year with 4,410 yards (second-highest total in his career and in franchise history), 30 touchdowns (one shy of his career-high in 2011), and 14 interceptions (13 fewer than he threw in 2013). Manning’s completion percentage (63.1) was a career-high. His passer rating of 92.1 was the second-highest of highest of his career (93.1 in 2009).

And Manning did all of this with a new offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and West Coast Offense-based system.

“I thought going to the West Coast was great for Eli at this point of his career. Really great,” Archie Manning said. “But I didn’t know it was going to involve mechanics and footwork and all that stuff. It was a transition, but he made it and he got more comfortable. Maybe he got comfortable when Odell (Beckham Jr.) started playing.”

Perry Fewell Joins Redskins as Defensive Backs Coach: Perry Fewell, the former defensive coordinator of the New York Giants who was fired by the team on January 7th, has joined the Washington Redskins as their new defensive backs coach. Ironically, Fewell replaces Raheem Morris, who interviewed with the Giants for the defensive coordinator vacancy before the Giants hired Steve Spagnuolo.

Fewell had also interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers, who reportedly offered him a position as their defensive backs coach.

Odell Beckham Says He Tore His Hamstring Twice in 2014: New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham played in the Pro Bowl on Sunday and finished the game with five catches for 89 yards. After the game, Beckham revealed that he tore his right hamstring twice before the 2014 season began. Beckham missed most of training camp, all of the preseason, and the first four games of the regular season. But he finished the season with 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Beckham originally hurt his right hamstring during Organized Team Activity (OTA) workouts in the spring. He suffered the second injury in practice during the preseason. Beckham tore the semitendinosus muscle and the hamstring belly.

“Well, I was never really healthy this season anyway,” said Beckham on Sunday. “I was just trying to manage and maintain it the best I could all year.

“It’s still not right. I’m still wrong on it, trying to get it 100 (percent) for next year…I could never really have that last gear that I wanted to have. If you go look at the Colts game and the Philly game, every time I went to break away I was stumbling and tripping, trying to fall over just because my hamstring wasn’t strong enough to maintain all that. That is something I’m working on today and I’ll keep working on throughout the offseason.

“Just make sure you get it full healthy. A hamstring (injury) is something that never really goes away. It’s very hard to get over. I’ll do my best to get it to 100, but if it’s not there, it’s not there.

“I should be good by training camp. The plan is to play at full strength next season, and I definitely hope to do it. I’m just looking forward to getting healthy.”

The New York Giants have hired Steve Spagnuolo as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Spagnuolo replaces Perry Fewell who was fired by the Giants on January 7th. Spagnulo was an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. He was the Giants’ defensive coordinator in 2007-08 before becoming the head coach of the St. Louis Rams in 2009.

The Giants’ defense was ranked 7th (2007) and 5th (2008) the two years Spagnuolo was with the team.

“We spoke to a lot of very good candidates,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “The energy, enthusiasm and strong personality that we saw before in Steve Spagnuolo, all of that was very evident again. His desire to be a Giant again was very, very obvious.

“Steve has so much enthusiasm in front of the room. His defense has changed since he was last here. He worked in Baltimore with John Harbaugh and Dean Pees, and they are outstanding defensive coaches. He has studied defenses. Steve visited colleges and talked to college coaches, including Urban Meyer (coach of national champion Ohio State) to learn how to defend the spread offenses that have become so popular.”

“Maria (his wife) and I are very happy to be returning to the Giants,” Spagnuolo said. “This is both new and familiar at the same time. I was hoping to take the next step, God willing, and be a coordinator again. I’m ecstatic that it’s with Tom Coughlin. Tom is the highest character guy I know. The feeling I have is one of excitement. We’re going to work our butts off, and hopefully we will do great things together.”

Spagnuolo fondly remembers the 2007 season that resulted in an NFL Championship for the Giants.

“That really was a special time,” Spagnuolo said. “What I remember most are the relationships we made with the players and coaches and everyone else in the organization. We’ve always felt like the Giants are a big part of our lives.”

Spagnuolo was one of four candidates interviewed for the position. The others were Washington Redskins Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris, ex-Buffalo Bills Defensive Line Coach Pepper Johnson, and ex-Oakland Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen.

The Giants also confirmed that they have hired Tim Walton as the team’s new cornerbacks coach, replacing Peter Giunta who was also fired on January 7th. Walton was the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams under Head Coach Jeff Fisher in 2013. He was replaced by Gregg Williams in 2014.

According to The New York Post, Pepper Johnson has been informed by the New York Giants that he is no longer being considered to fill the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy. Johnson, who was the defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2014, interviewed with the Giants on Monday.

Johnson was a linebacker for the Giants from 1986-1992, earning two Super Bowl rings under then Head Coach Bill Parcells and then Defensive Coordinator Bill Belichick. For 14 seasons, Johnson was on Belichick’s coaching staff in New England.

Johnson’s complete coaching bio:

2014: Defensive Line Coach, Buffalo Bills

2012-2013: Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots

2004-2011: Defensive Line Coach, New England Patriots

2001-2003: Inside Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots

2000: Assistant Linebackers Coach, New England Patriots

Earlier press reports have also said that Washington Redskins Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris is also no longer a candidate for the Giants’ defensive coordinator vacancy. Morris interviewed with the Giants last Friday.

The only two other candidates who are publicly known to have interview for the position are ex-Oakland Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen and Baltimore Ravens Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach Steve Spagnuolo.

To follow the latest developments on the coaching search, please check out our Twitter feed.

According to ESPN and NJ.com, the New York Giants will hire Tim Walton as the team’s new cornerbacks coach. The position became vacant earlier this month when the Giants fired Peter Giunta, who had been with the team since 2006, on January 7. That was the same day the Giants also fired Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell.

The 43-year Walton was last employed by the St. Louis Rams as their defensive coordinator in 2013. Walton’s coaching bio:

2013: Defensive Coordinator, St. Louis Rams

2009-2012: Defensive Backs Coach, Detroit Lions

2008: Defensive Coordinator, University of Memphis

2007: Defensive Coordinator, University of Miami

2004-2006: Defensive Backs Coach, University of Miami

2003: Defensive Backs Coach, Louisiana State University

2002: Defensive Backs Coach, Syracuse University

2000-2001: Defensive Backs Coach, University of Memphis

1999: Defensive Backs Coach, Bowling Green State University

1996-1998: Running Backs Coach, Bowling Green State University

1995: Graduate Assistant, Bowling Green State University

The Giants safeties coach currently remains David Merritt.

Meanwhile, there is no official word on who the next defensive coordinator will be. The Giants are known to have interviewed Washington Redskins Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris, Buffalo Bills Defensive Line Coach Pepper Johnson, ex-Oakland Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen, and Baltimore Ravens Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach Steve Spagnuolo for the position.

According to one BigBlueInteractive.com source, the Giants agreed to terms with Spagnuolo to be the new defensive coordinator earlier today.

New York Giants President/CEO John Mara, General Manager Jerry Reese, and Head Coach Tom Coughlin were all interviewed on Wednesday afternoon on WFAN Radio. The audio from those interviews is available at CBS New York. Mara was also interview on ESPN Radio.

Some key points raised included:

Mara:

He is aware that the teams the Giants beat were not very good teams. He is under no illusions about how much work needs to be done.

Giants did not stick with Tom Coughlin because of what he did in the past but because they felt he was the best option moving forward.

Maintaining the same offensive system under Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo was a consideration for keeping Coughlin, but not the overriding concern.

It is OK if the coordinators have longer contracts than Coughlin.

Coughlin will make the decision on hiring the new defensive coordinator.

The team has struggled because of injuries and a bad couple of drafts. The 2013 and 2014 drafts were better.

Giants need to upgrade offensive and defensive lines as well as linebacker and safety.

Reese:

The Giants considered WR Odell Beckham a top 10 pick. They also liked OG Zack Martin. Anytime the choice is between a dynamic play maker and a guard, the team will choose a play maker. The Giants did have WR Sammy Watkins rated over Beckham, but had Beckham ahead of OT Taylor Lewan.

He thinks Weston Richburg, who played left guard in 2014, will be a terrific center and considers that his natural position.

Where Justin Pugh plays in 2015 depends on what offseason moves the Giants make.

DT Johnathan Hankins played extremely well and DE Damontre Moore made things happen when he played.

Having OG Geoff Schwartz, who missed most of the season with injuries, will help the offensive line.

The Giants need to protect QB Eli Manning better, but the new offense does help him get rid of the ball quicker.

WR Victor Cruz is on schedule to be back in 2015 after suffering a serious knee injury, but the Giants can not count on him returning.

Because of the attention Beckham receives, the #2 receiver should be “feasting” in terms of on-field performance.

The Giants did not do a good enough job of closing out games in 2014.

Coughlin:

Change was necessary on defense. The defense gave up too many big plays. He does not believe the new defensive scheme will be radically different.

The new offensive system was right for the Giants at this particular time. Manning improved his play at quarterback.

The Giants need to do a better job of stopping the run and running the football.

Believes the Giants are not that far way on the offensive line, but do need more help.

Believes Weston Richburg will make a big leap forward in 2015.

The Giants keep researching the injury situation. The team did cut down on soft tissue injuries in 2014, but the non-soft tissue injuries hit them hard.

The fans have been great to him. He feels badly for the last two years and wants a product on the field that the fans can rally around.

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